Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Dmitry Sinitsyn played for the Dallas Stars U16 midget team after moving to America from his native Russia to attend high school. In 57 games with the Stars he scored 24 goals with 28 assists and had 44 penalty minutes.

2010-11: Sinitsyn was the leading scorer for the Dallas Stars U16 midget team from his defenseman position – scoring 11 goals with 20 assists in 36 games. He was drafted by the Green Bay Gamblers in the 5th round (74th overall) of the USHL Entry Draft and drafted by Barys Astana in the second round (38th overall) of the 2011 KHL Draft.

2011-12: Originally intending to play in the USHL, Sinitsyn was forced to return to Russia when his student visa expired. He played seven games for Zelenograd in the Russian Minor Hockey League’s B division while in Russia and was scoreless and plus-two with 10 penalty minutes. He returned to North America in December and enrolled at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Sinitsyn practiced with the Red Hawks but did not appear in any games – maintaining all four years of his NCAA eligibility. Not among the 210 players in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft, he was selected by Dallas in the seventh round (183rd overall).

2012-13: Sinitsyn played 13 games for Massachusetts-Lowell as a freshman. He scored 2 goals and was an even plus/minus with 4 penalty minutes. The River Hawks had one of the best seasons in school history – winning the Hockey East regular season and playoff titles and advancing to the Frozen Four; falling to eventual national champion Yale in overtime in the semifinal game. Sinitsyn was selected by Regina in the first round (16th overall) of the 2013 CHL Import Draft and will play in the WHL with the Pats in 2013-14.

2013-14: Sinitsyn left Massachusetts-Lowell to play junior hockey with the Regina Pats. He was the team’s leading scorer amongst defensemen, scoring 10 goals with 34 assists, and was +5 with 63 penalty minutes in 69 games. Five of his 10 goals were scored on the power play. Regina finished first in the East Division before being swept by Brandon in a first-round playoff series. Sinitsyn was -5 with no points and 6 penalty minutes in four playoff games. In July 2014 he signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Moscow in the KHL.

2014-15: Sinitsyn returned to Russia to begin his pro career — appearing in 16 KHL games with Dynamo Moscow and playing for the Balashikha VHL (minor league) and MHL (junior) teams. He had 1 assist and was +4 with 8 penalty minutes, averaging 13 minutes of ice time in 15 regular season games for Dynamo and was -1 in 10 minutes of ice time in his only playoff game. In 20 VHL games with Dynamo Balshikha he scored 2 goal with 7 assists and was +4 with 6 penalty minutes, averaging 17:43 minutes of ice time. Sinitsyn played in four MHL games, including two playoff games, and scored 1 goal with 1 assist and 4 penalty minutes with a +1 plus/minus.

2015-16: Sinitsyn appeared in 11 regular season KHL games with Dynamo Moscow and played in one playoff contest, spending most of the year with Balashikha in the VHL. He has 1 assist and was +1 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging nine minutes of ice time during the regular season. Sinitsyn had no points nor penalties in 4:30 minutes of ice time in his only playoff game. He scored 3 goals with 5 assists and was +9 with 37 penalty minutes, averaging 19:39 minutes of ice time in 19 regular season games for Balashikha. He scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was -3 with 2 penalty minutes in six games in the VHL playoffs.

Talent Analysis

Sinitsyn was viewed as a late round steal with "“first round tools” by one scout when he was taken in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft; due primarily to his physical attributes and technical skills — size, fluid skating and a big shot. He also showed toughness, though at times he could be undisciplined, playing junior hockey with the Dallas Stars U16 team. After a disappointing season of college hockey he played major junior last year for Regina and is now back in Russia beginning his professional career there. On the plus side he is a skilled offensive defender with the willingness to attack and the ability to create opportunities for those around him. At other times he tries to make the perfect or fancy play too often. He doesn’t like the simple play and isn’t very content to just get the puck out of the zone without it turning into an offensive counter-attack. .

Future

Sinitsyn spent his second professional season in Russia in 2015-16 — once again splitting time between Dynamo Moscow and VHL club Dynamo Balashikha. Not signed to an entry-level contract by Dallas, he is now an unrestricted free agent. As with any late round pick Sinitsyn faces long odds in one day playing in the NHL. His skill set suggests he can one day be an effective offensive defenseman and contribute on the power play. It is equally likely he spends the rest of his career in Russia.

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